LKH Graz II – Sigmund Freud Klinik

Transphobic Behavior and Disregard for Identity I must share an extremely distressing experience that my best friend had to endure in the closed ward of the LSF Graz. Upon admission, the clinic's software incorrectly… listed her gender as "male," even though my friend is a trans woman and her ID card and gender reassignment certificate clearly state her gender as "female." After an initial apology, she was nevertheless transferred to the men's ward the following morning—again citing the incorrect system entry, despite her having presented the official certificate. The staff's behavior was particularly hurtful: In front of several male patients, she was asked if she had a penis. Such a question is not only disrespectful and inappropriate, but it also challenges a person's identity at a moment of extreme vulnerability and causes immense psychological distress. A clinic responsible for mental health should be aware that such incidents are massively retraumatizing. There is clearly a lack of awareness and training in dealing with trans people. I hope that LSF Graz takes these incidents seriously, investigates them, and ensures that no one else is treated this way.

I was in the closed SM ward and was treated like a second-class citizen. What I found particularly great was that when I said I couldn't tolerate Zyprexa, the nurse said, "Either you take it or you don't get any at… all!" It was a really poorly organized and unfriendly clinic, except for the two larger, broader men and the young blonde woman. The others were incredibly condescending. There was also a lot of gossiping and mocking about patients in the doctors' lounge, which shows you that they couldn't care less about you as a patient! And if you open your mouth, you'll either be sedated with benzodiazepines, hypnotics, etc., or you'll be strapped to the bed. (Which works really well for patients with claustrophobia!) I arrived more sober than when I left. Their sole aim is to do as little work as possible. The administrators of this institution would prefer to sedate you so thoroughly that you don't even know your own name! It's an exceptionally good choice for the pharmaceutical industry to immediately give everyone who comes in Temesta (lorazepam), Dominal (a strong hypnotic), Praxiten (oxazepam), or Zyprexa several times a day. The industry has to make millions from the medications dispensed here! I hope I never have to go back to this hellhole!

My stay was over a year ago now, yet some aspects of it remain very vivid in my memory. Unfortunately, it wasn't a good experience for me. I arrived during a severe crisis, and even after leaving the facility, I didn't… feel that anything had fundamentally changed. I often felt seen, but not truly perceived as a person. They saw the behavior, but not always the feelings, the story, and the reasons behind it. Especially during such a crisis, I would have appreciated more empathy and understanding. One psychologist and one doctor/psychiatrist, in particular, have left a negative impression on me. Statements like "Try to forget it" were not helpful at all. Even more distressing was the doctor's comment during my suicidal thoughts that I could commit suicide at home, but not in the facility, as he didn't want to be responsible for it. Such words further wounded me in an already very vulnerable state. I'm aware that my own behavior at the time was sometimes problematic. At the same time, I was in an extremely difficult situation. That's precisely why I wish more effort had been made to understand the underlying reasons for this behavior. However, I also want to emphasize that not everything was bad. A large portion of the nursing staff was very dedicated and friendly. I particularly remember one nurse who took the time for a compassionate conversation after a suicide attempt. That has stayed with me to this day. I am aware of how challenging the work in this field is and the role that staff shortages play. Nevertheless, I wish that doctors and psychologists, in particular, would show more empathy when dealing with people in acute crises. I will not report the doctor in question to the medical association. However, I hope that this feedback will serve as food for thought. Words can have a lasting impact in such a situation and may have even more serious consequences for another person. People with suicidal thoughts need security and support—not statements that could be interpreted as confirmation or encouragement. Despite everything, I am grateful that my medication was successfully adjusted and that it allowed me to at least temporarily escape my spiraling thoughts. My stay there wasn't easy, but it was probably necessary at the time. I'm doing well again now. However, I wouldn't want to repeat such an experience. Nevertheless, I'd like to express my sincere gratitude to those staff members who treated me with kindness and understanding.

A huge thank you to Dr. Filipović and the teams at PS32 and Day Clinic 3; you have helped me tremendously (on several occasions). It's reassuring to know that in an emergency, there's a place nearby where I can receive… support from highly qualified and compassionate staff. You are all amazing!

I was scared when I was admitted, but I received wonderful care here on ward PS15. The team was very friendly, and my stay helped me tremendously! A big thank you also to Dr. Prietl and Nurse Monika. Truly kind and… highly professional people. 🫶🏻

Very friendly and competent staff and doctors

It's great here, but unfortunately the navigation leads you to the emergency entrance; the visitor entrance is directly opposite Ikea.

Very friendly staff, great care at Neuro 1!

On ward 24, I experienced severe psychological abuse; sometimes I didn't receive my food or medication. They don't understand the clinical picture of complex PTSD and were never willing to listen to me or address my… needs. All they ever said was, "Don't be so dramatic!" They only ever wanted to discipline me and never help, so I often didn't get food or medication. On ward 22, I even experienced physical violence, and my food was snatched out of my hand twice (I had to eat in my room because I couldn't stand the insecurity with the other patients. The nursing staff didn't want that and snatched the food from my hand). As punishment (because I sought help from another doctor since they were determined to discharge me), the senior physician put me in the psychiatric ward, saying, "On Monday, you're going straight out." She refused to help me; from the very first day, she wanted me out and received no assistance as a result. As someone with complex PTSD, I was confined to such a cramped ward, and when my anxiety and fear paralyzed me, leaving me unable to move, I was insulted by the doctor and the nursing staff. She wanted to have a man drag me out, even though she knew the fear I had of men. At one point, I locked myself in the bathroom for hours, and even then, two men tried to drag me out. I was insulted by the senior physician and the nursing staff as well. Once, a nurse deliberately opened the bathroom door wide (Roswita) and slammed it shut loudly (she shouted "Shut up!" while doing so). Even though it was known that even small banging noises are a catastrophe for me (a trigger). No matter how severe my symptoms are... I'd rather kill myself than go back to the LSF (a psychiatric hospital). After two years, I still suffer from nightmares and extreme anxiety. I will never set foot in there again. When I'm feeling down, whatever happens, happens, even if it means I end up killing myself. Addendum: Thanks for trying to portray things as lies, but that doesn't change the facts! Every word is the absolute truth, and I haven't even written everything. Why would I write something like this after two years? There's no respect at LSF; disrespect is the order of the day. I was once fortunate enough to be able to work on a trauma ward (in Graz). Some of the trauma patients couldn't even talk about how badly they were re-traumatized at LSF; that's how bad it is for trauma patients there. LSF is a disaster, especially for trauma patients, but other patients have had similar experiences. So stop calling me a liar! I've heard from many patients who have had bad experiences and just want closure.

From the perspective of the ambulance service, the handover at the ZSM (Central Medical Unit) and in the psychiatric ward involved waiting times exceeding 40 minutes for no apparent reason. Nothing is moving forward,… and thus ambulance resources are being unnecessarily blocked.

LKH Graz II, South Campus, Neurology Like many other patients, I arrived at the neurology outpatient clinic with some trepidation – I didn't have supplemental insurance. Even there, I was very impressed by the calm and… friendly manner of the doctors and all the staff involved. During my three days and two nights, I had ample opportunity to observe how the doctors, therapists, nurses, and cleaning staff treated me and the other patients. The competence and professionalism, combined with genuine empathy, were truly remarkable. I experienced this respect not only towards the patients but also in the interactions within the teams. The way patients are spoken to, the consideration given to their individual medical conditions, and the resulting positive and optimistic atmosphere is exceptionally professional, warm, and impressive. I would especially like to commend the team who welcomed me on April 16, 2026, and the ward team on Friday, April 17, 2026. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and respect to the entire team – without exception. My roommates Ernst and Franz share this sentiment. Or, as my esteemed roommate Franz from Bad Schwanberg put it: "Hats off to this hospital!"

My mother was in the APP4 geriatric psychiatry ward at LSF for about a month! When everyone had given up hope, they helped her there! The nurses, doctors, and social workers were all very dedicated and took their time!… Thank you for everything, and for the fact that such kind staff still exist today! Thank you for everything, and I can only say the best about the facility.

A huge thank you to Dr. Ameur and the entire Neurology Emergency Department team from March 29, 2026, and also to the entire team of PS 13. Very friendly and helpful nurses, orderlies, and doctors. Special thanks to Dr.… Miller and RN Andrea Pirker for listening and providing positive encouragement. 🥰

Excellent facility, competent, helpful and very friendly.

Dear Neurology Team, Ward 3 and Rehab 2C, a heartfelt thank you for the wonderful care you provided for my almost 92-year-old mother. She spent a total of almost 16 weeks with you. The senior physicians always took the… time to explain the diagnosis and treatment, which is truly exceptional. Their great empathy and patience gave my mother the strength to recover. The therapists also did a fantastic job. Our thanks also go to the nursing staff!

Well, in certain areas it's bad, especially when someone runs away; relatives aren't even informed.

The neurology staff are very nice and helpful. However, if you need information from the receptionist by phone, she is very rude, unhelpful, seems very demotivated, and greetings are clearly not part of her vocabulary.… She simply hangs up if you have any further questions.

A truthful, negative review is not published. Even though the reviews supposedly aren't checked! Well, unfortunately, I can't recommend it.

At the LSF (South location) PS 12, I received absolutely no support during my nervous breakdown/crisis. In fact, things got even worse for me there, as I felt I constantly had to justify why I had admitted myself to the… LSF. The doctor and the psychologist assigned to me were completely insensitive and made me feel unwanted: "You know you can't stay here long; my colleagues and I don't know why you're even here, explain to me why you're here at all" (after I had already told three different people about my situation). I felt like I constantly had to justify myself and that I wasn't understood at all. I was in a dissociated state for days and kept bursting into tears, but no one took that into consideration. The only things offered at the LSF were voluntary activities like sports or creative projects. In my state, it was clear I didn't take advantage of these. I needed intensive psychological support. The psychologist said, however, that I could only talk to her for 30-45 minutes once a week. She also seemed rushed and frantic, constantly going from one appointment to the next. As a result, she barely had any time for me, squeezing me in somewhere between appointments. I admitted myself to the LSF (a psychiatric hospital) because I saw it as a last resort to avoid harming myself, and I expected appropriate help from qualified, stable professionals. Unfortunately, my hopes were utterly dashed. The insensitivity of both the doctor and the psychologist further devastated me. Furthermore, after my discharge, a follow-up appointment was simply assigned to me in my discharge letter, without my consent. I wasn't even informed verbally that I had been given one. Consequently, I couldn't attend. I tried to call to inquire whether I could reschedule the appointment, but I was simply passed from one number to another. The women I spoke to on the phone were also extremely unfriendly, which further distressed me in my vulnerable state. I genuinely expected compassionate, or at least not unfriendly, staff there. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed that what seemed like my last resort only made things worse. To everyone who sees no other way out (except perhaps being admitted to a psychiatric hospital): talk to family, friends, and acquaintances before you go there. Hang in there, it will get better. 🫶🏼 And consider seeing a private psychologist and getting a referral for rehabilitation.

You seek help and then receive none!